Connect with us

Daily News

Self-Regulation Model May Work For OTT Companies: Govt

The government has said it does not have powers to regulate internet content, but suggested an institutional self-regulatory model similar to traditional media, a move that most online video streaming platforms have rejected.

The government told this in an affidavit to the Supreme Court, responding to a petition seeking censorship and licensing of these companies.

Streaming firms including Netflix, Zee5, AltBalaji, Arre and MX Player have opposed a recent move by four players — Hotstar, Voot, Jio and SonyLiv — to form a Digital Content Complaint Council (DCCC).

Amazon Prime has also refused to join the new council.

DCCC, an adjudicatory body, will be headed by a retired judge and have representations from industry and the government. “Individual OTT media platforms are in the best position to determine the nature of the content and the kind of restrictions that it requires. Each platform can put a process and system in place based on their respective viewer demographics, market share, business strategies and revenue models,” said Karan Bedi, CEO of MX Player. “We certainly believe self-regulation is the best way forward.”

MX Player is owned by Times Internet, a part of the Times Group which also publishes this newspaper.

Companies opposing the idea of an industry-wide adjudicatory body believe they must have autonomy to decide on content and resolve consumer complaints on their own. “It may be relevant to have an institutional mechanism of selfregulation by these media platforms as in respect of other media — print and electronic — along with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the rules framed thereunder,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) said in its affidavit.

It added that the government has predominantly believed in the spirit of selfregulation, except in matters of security and sovereignty of the country.―Business Telegraph

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2024 Communications Today

error: Content is protected !!